The Irish standard., 1887-12-24
the TRAMp'S CHRISTMAS.
BY F. C. Il.

The police captain Of the Pre-
cinct found himself in high dudseon
that Christmas eve, and had taken occa-
sion to address his sergeant in terms
by no means as omplimentary as they
were forcible. The sergeant, not ven
turing to retort upon his superior,
nursed his wrath until 81 real or fan
cied delinquency OH the part Of the
doorn1an OF the station gave him the
welcome opportunity OF venting his
spleen upon that official. The latter.
in turn, chafed and angered at the
rating. poured out the walls of his ire
upon such unhappy wretches as fell
into his hands that night. He bs-
slowed vicious kick upon the uncon-
scious drunkard and slammed the
door of the cell upon him with malig.
nant glee. He jbed at the female
prisoners, who by turns sobbed and
laughed hystericaily: and was stone
deaf to the pleadiugs of the awaken
ing sots who piteously begged for a
cup Of water to cool their parched and
burning throats. Then bctimes. On
Christmas morning, he decendeti to the
dodgers room to expend his bile upon
the miserable outcasts that herded
arouud the glowing stove therein. He
flung open the door with 81 cIang. a
sickening odor and q rush Of intoier-
able heat burst forth
"Opt OF here" he cried, tthe whole
bilin' Of you! Whew! You're worse
nor Hunters point and Barren Island
knocked into one. A liithier lot new
er see! Out with you--d'ye hear? A
precious time have Oh it raslin' with
drunks and vixens all night, and keepin'
a. hotel for tramps and heggars like yer?
Get QUIT"
They trooped forth-that motley
horde-scme with muttered curses, but
most with cowed and cringing looks,
humbly deprecating the cho}er Of their
petty tyrant. They shivered as they
reached the frosty air and blinked in
the sunshine, like flock Of foul and
ugly uight- birds whom the day
light had surprised. Then they dis
persed on their several ways through
out the city, to CLEAN such sustenance
as charity or chance might throw into
their wretched paths.
SAnd mind you," cried the doorman
to the last who issued ont, mind yor
that you don't rteurn here again.
You've been here three nights now.
Find other lodgings-come here no
mere"
The man he had addressed heard not
the words Or gave them no heed. He
moved away with the dull aud abstract
ed gaze of one whc walks in sleep. He
was a man OF sixty five, or thereabout,
with pinched and shrivelled features of
a corpse like pallor, save wherea hec
tic flush burnt upon either cheek. The
snow had fallen and lay deep upon the
ground. The sun shone brightly; the
atmosphere was still and calm-but it
was cold, deadly cold. The fierce air
sought the shuddering flesh of the man
through the rents of his miserable gar
ments, and bit him with its icy teeth.
His breath came and went with wheez
ing sound A hollow, tearing cough
racked his frame. He spat and stained
the snow with blood; but he looked
upon the crimson spot with omething.
like a smile. 1t was the signal of
death, he knew; it was the \ promise, g mise
too, Of the nearing close to the long
years Of his misery and degrad ton, on
Slowly and haltingly he took his his way VI
downsthe cleaning street. It vyHaszyet H s L
early and the city gave q few few
signs life At that hour; u A llquol'
silicon had but ust opened itsad
man passed heScast BY NJ